Peachtree Street Bridges over Connector to be Refurbished

Motorists zooming (or sometimes idling) on the Interstate 75/85 Connector will soon see Peachtree Street in a new brighter fashion.

Specifically at the two bridges that cross the connector at the southern and northern ends, the latter where Midtown and Buckhead converge.

The State Transportation Board voted this week to spend $1.7 million to refurbish the bridges as part of an overall plan to make the interstate corridor a more pleasant welcoming area to visitors.  

According to the Midtown Alliance, which has been planning the $5 million project for the two bridges along with the Central Atlanta Progress, the spruced up I-85/I-75 interchange bridge will feature sculptured fences and sidewalks at street level, and colored under-lighting for night time and the words “Peachtree Street” in lights.

It’s all a part of Georgia Department of Transportation's (GDOT) Gateways program, which is focused on constructing more welcoming structures at nine interstate highway entrances to the state. The connector bridges were selected because they are one of the first things visitors see when entering the city after arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Planners hope both bridges will be completed in spring of 2014. 

Three more bridges– those stretching across the connector at 10th Street, North Avenue and Courtland Street - would follow later.

It will be a $10 million price tag to refurbish all five bridges with GDOT planning to provide about $3.5 million in funding. According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, the remainding funds will “come through a small grant from the State Road and Tollway Authority and from private sources, including the two self-taxing organizations.”

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the GDOT money “comes from signs near highway exits that advertise businesses at upcoming rest stops.”